Hoop forming and splicing machine.



N. K. BOWMAN & J. C. HEWITT.

HOOP FORMING AND SPLIOING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25, 1912.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914."

10 SHBETS-SHEET 1.

- smvento'os 11 K 5000777657 JG flea/6Z6 N. K. BOWMAN & J. 0. HEWITT.

HOOP FORMING AND SPLIGING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 25, 1912.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

10 SHEETSSHEET 2.

am unions flour? a?) THE NURRI; HLTERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHOU WASHINGTON, D.c.

N. K. BOWMAN & J. C. HEWITT.

HOOP FORMING AND SPLIGING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25, 1912.

1,1 22,680. Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

10 $HEBTS- $HEET 3,

30mm JC- FQCOL'ZZ 7H5 NORRIS PETERS CO PHow LITHO wasnmn ro/v. D. Cv

N. K. BOWMAN & J. G. HEWITT.

HOOP FORMING A'ND SPLIGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25, 1912.

1 ,1 22,680. Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

10 SHEETS SHBET 4.

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) Sub-1mm THE NORRIS PETERS CO, FHOTO-LITHO WASHINGTON. D. c

N. K. BOWMAN & J. 0. HEWITT.

HOOP FORMING AND SPLIGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 001. 25, 1912.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

avwewiiozs mflawman f a wc'zf IHE NORRIS PETERS 00.. FH TOLIrHa.WASHINGTON, D.

N; K. BOWMAN 5: J. G. HEWITT.

HOOP FORMING AND SPLIOING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 25, 1912.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

10 SHEETS-SHBET 6.

nbewliom 3 IZIBOwWQ/z Inn Norma: PF'TERS 60.. PHOTO IITHQ. WASHINGTON.D. C.

N. K. BOWMAN & J. G. HEWITT.

HOOP FORMING AND SPLIGING MACHINE.

I APPLICATION FILED OUT. 25, 1912. 1,122,680. PatentedDec. 29, 191i 10SHEETS-SHEET 7 QR s Mime mm THE NORRIS PETERS C0,, PHOTO'L'THQ. wAmNnroM a c N. K. BOWMAN & J. C. HEWITT.

HOOP FORMING AND SPLICING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 25, 1912.

1,122,680. Patented De0.29,1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

Suva H0005 I HE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHDTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D c

N. K. BOWMAN & J. G. HEWITT. HOOP FORMING AND SPLIGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED DOT. 25, 1912.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

N. K. BOWMAN & J. O. HEWITT.

HOOP FORMING AND SPLIOING MAUHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 25, 1912. 1,1 22,68() Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

' 10 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

8mm flfioiroiyay fC'. iwza Maine/11x UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

NEWTON K, BOWMAN, 01F NOIQTI-I LAWRENCE, AND JOHN C. HEWITT, OF CANTON,OHIO, A53 IGrNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE AMERICAN HOOPSPLICE COMPANY, OF CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

Hoor romaine AND SRLIQING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters ZEatent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

Application filed October 25, 1912. Serial No. 727,758.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatwe, NEWTON K. Bow- MAN and JOHN C. HEWITT, citizens ofthe United States, residing at North Lawrence and Canton,respectively,'in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have inventedcertain new anduseful Improvements'in' Hoop Forming and SplicingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to machines de signed for bending hoop blanks intocircular form and splicing the ends ofthe hoop blanks, and particularlyto improvements on the hoop formingmechanism shown in the prior patentranted to Newton K. Bowman on the 31s 'day of July, 1908, No. 827,607.

The general object of the invention. is to provide a macl1ii1einto whichlioopblanks may be inserted, and by which the blank may be bent around aform, and to provide in connection therewith means whereby splice plateshaving prongs projecting therefroiirmay be fed from a magazine, forcedagainst the meeting ends of the hoops and clamped securely "thereon, thecompleted hoop being then" ejected from the machine.

A" fiiitl1e1"object isto improve the detailed construction of themachine illustrated in the prior pzit'ent 'above "referred to so as toprovide for a simpler and more positive actuation of the mechanismtherein shown and generally to simplify the consti'uction illustrated.-

A. 'fiuther" object is to :irovide a form aroiind which the'hoo'p blan:is bent,whi'ch forniis adjustable withincertain limits so as toaccommodate blanks of difi'erentsizes.

A furtherob j'ect is to provide'means for positively engaging the bentblank by the bending means so as to prevent any shifting of the freeends of the blank when the splice plate is being applied.

A still further objectisto provide improvedmechanism for feeding the"sjplim plates one b'yoiie from the magazine, and meanscoacting"therewith for preventing the ejection ofmore than one spliceplate at a time from the magazine.

A further object is 'to provide mechanism for stopping the ejection ofblanks from the magazineas iii case of breakage any part.

Another object istdprovide 'means for supporting hoop blanks in suchposition that they may be readily fed to the magazine.

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hoop forming and splicing machineconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation taken from aviewpoint opposed to that in Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is'a plan view of themachine. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on the line 55 of Fig; i. Fig.6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the blank clamping mechanism,the form and a portion of the blank bending jaws, the blank bending jawsbeing in their retracted position. Fig. 7 is a like view to Fig. 6 butshowing the jaws in their forward position and the hoop bent around theform." Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the splice plate magazineand the means for feeding a splice plate therefrom. Fig. 9 is a likeview to Fig. 8 but showing the parts in the position taken when thesplice plate is bent around and clamped to the free ends of the hoop.Fig. 10 is a like view 'to Fig. 9 but showing the jaws partly opened andthe hammer projected to complete theoperation of clamping the spliceplate upon the hoop. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view on theline 1111 of 9. Fig. 12 is a perspective detail view of the base platecarrying the hammer, the hammer mounted thereon and the ejector. Fig. 13is an under side perspective view of theplatel i shown in Fig. 12 andshowing the clamping slide, the figure also showing inperspective thelevers whereby the clamp ing slide is'operated and the ejector actuated.Fig. 14k is a perspective detail view of the uppermost clenching'jaw. 15is a perspective view of the forward end of the magazine. Fig. 16 is avertical section on the line 16-46 of Fig. 17. Fig. 17 is a verticalsection on the line 1717 of Fig. 16. 18 is a. perspective detail view ofthe and the yoke upon which it is mounted. Fig. 19 is a fragmentaryelevation partly sectional of the end of one of the arms 20, the lowerroller engaging the track 8 and the upper roller which engages the hoopbe ing in section. Fig. 20 is a perspective detail view'of the meetingends of a hoop and a perspective view of the splice plate before itsapplication to the hoop. Fig. 21 is a like view to Fig. 20 but showingthe splice plate which has been applied and clenched.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawingsby the same reference characters.

The framework of the machine comprises the parallel, spaced,longitudinally extending supporting beams 2 which may be formed in anysuitable manner but as shown are castings provided with the legs 3.These side pieces 2 are supported in spaced relation to each other inany suitable manner.

Mounted upon the middle of the supporting beams is a form composed ofapproximately semi-annular segments constituting opposed sections 5 and6, each having an inner vertical flange 7 and a basal flange S formedwith a mar inal flan e 9 the marginal flange 9 being less in height thanthe flange 7. This marginal flange 9 is concentric for a distance withthe flange 7. The basal flange of each section is extended rearward andinward as at 10 at a tangent to the curve of the flanges 7 and 8, andthese i 9 constitute opposite tracks extending forward in divergentlines from the rear of the machine and then curving in an arouate formforward and toward the middle of the machine. The inner vertical flange7 of each section is extended rearward and toward the middle of themachine and the extension 7 of said flange is of less height than theflange 7. It will be seen that the two sections 5 and 6 when in positionconstitute an annular form interrupted at front and rear. form abovedescribed are attached to a base plate 1 1 as will be later described.In order to provide for the adjustment of this form to suit larger orsmaller hoops, we form the rear ends of the segmental webs of the formeach with a slot 13 and the forward ends each with a bolt opening. Thesections 5 and 6 are mounted upon the plate 1% (see Fig. 13) which isprovided with upwardly projecting bolts 15 which pass through theforwardly disposed perforations in the sections and upwardly projectingstud bolts 16 which pass through the arcuate shaped slots 13. Thus thesegments are pivoted each at its forward end and adjustable nearer to orfarther from each other at their rear ends;

The rear portions of the side pieces 2 as shown in Fig. 5 are relativelynear to gether and adjacent their upper edges are formed withlongitudinally extending grooves 17 upon which moves a slide or Thesections constituting the carriage 18 having lateral tongues projectinginto. the grooves. Extending up therefrom are studs 19 upon which arepivoted the bending arms or formers 20. Each of these arms as shown inFig. 7 is bowed or curved and each has a strengthening flange- It willbe seen that upon a forward movement of the carriage from the positionshown .in Fig. 6 to that in Fig. 7, the forward ends of the arms willfirst move in straight divergent lines and then will be moved towardeach other, and that upon a reverse movement ofthe slide this motionwill be reversed so that the arms are first drawn apart and then move instraight lines toward the center and rear of the machine into theposition shown in Fig. 6.

In order to reciprocate the slide it is formed with a depending yoke 24-having a transverse pin 25 with which the slotted upper end of a lever26 engages as illustrated in Fig. 5. This lever is pivotally mounted atits lower end betweenv the rear pair of legs and is provided with alaterally projecting stud engaging a cam, this cam acting to oscillatethe lever and thereby reciprocate the slide. The details of the drivingmechanism will be described later, I

however.

Mounted at the rear end of the machine and extending between, the spacedside pieces 2 is a cross piece 27 having a central hub through whichpasses a stem 28' having a head 29 at its inner end constituting abuffer, a coil spring 30 being disposed around the stem 28 and betweenthe head and the cross piece and resisting any inward movement of thehead. This buffer takes up the shock caused by the complete retractionof the sliding carriage on which the arms are mounted. This buffer isillustrated most clearly in Figs t and 5.

Mounted upon the plate 14 as illustrated I rocating for this purpose.This slide is reciprocated by means of a bell crank lever engaging a camas illustrated in Fig. 5 and as will be further described.

In order that the hoop may be held firmly in place after it has beenbent around the form, we provide each of the sections 5 and 6 of theform with a prong 3-1 (see Fig. 6) disposed each at the forward end ofits corresponding'fiange 7, which prongs engage the hoop as its ends areforced inward against the form. W e may also provide the arms 20 withsprings adapted to engage the hoop as the arms embrace the form whichfirmly hold the hoop in place with a resilient grasp. After the hoop hasbeen bent around the form by the bending arms 20 and the ends abutagainst each other, it is in position for the splice plate.

As shown in Fig. 20, the splice plate 7) consists of a thin metal platehaving prongs punched from it. These prongs are arranged in two verticalsets, one set being spaced from the other so as to leave an intermediateplain portion 6 and the machine is designed to bend 01' fold the platearound abutting ends of the hoop as shown in Fig. 21. The splice platesare initially carried in an elongated magazine 36 which as shown inFigs. 4 and 5 is mounted on supporting brackets disposed on crossmembers 37 sup ported on the side beams 2. Each magazine consists of anelongated trough having a width equal to the width of the splice platebut less in height.

The splice plates are fed forward in the trough by a follower 38 (seeFig. 8) which is attached to a cord 39 extending forward along thebottom of the magazine and passing over a roller 4:0. The cord is thencarried back to the end of the machine and passes over a pulley llsupported on a bracket 42-. A counterweight i -8 (see Fig. 3) isattached to the depending end of the cord and acts to feed the followerforward. In order that the follower may be held steady within themagazine, it is provided with an extension 45 and a block as, whichblock fits the internal configuration of the magazine. To accommodatethe cord 3%), the bottom of the magazine is longitudinally grooved as at4:4.

Adjacent the forward end of the magazine in the bottom thereof istransverse delivery slot through which the splice plates are adapted tobe fed one by one in succession, and disposed in the magazine troughadjacent this slot and normally inward thereof is a detent or gate 48(Fig. 17) having a protuberant middle portion 49. The purpose of thisprotuberant middle portion is to engage the middle portion of the spliceplate so that the face of the gate will not come in contact with thesharp ends of the prongs on the splice plate and tend to bend theseprongs inward. The gate is attached toa yoke 50 with ribs 51 on itssides which travel in slots 52 formed in the forward end of the magazineas shown in Fig. 15. The rearward extremities of the ribs 51 areprovided with the outwardly projecting lugs 53, each lug being formedwith an inclined face 5st adapted to be engaged by actuating wedges aswill be later described.

Extending vertically downward at the forward ends of the sides of themagazine and extending across the slots 52 are the blocks 55 anddisposed between each of the blocks and the adjacent lug 53 is a coilspring 56 which acts to urge the gate rearward with relation to theforward end of the magazine and normally hold the gate in such positionthat it will prevent the dis charge of a splice plate from the dischargeopening 17. This position is shown in Fig. 9. lVhen the gate is movedtoward the forward end of the magazine, it permits the forward movementof the first splice plate and permits it to drop through the slot and bereceived upon the clamping devices as will be later described.

As a means of actuating the gate and reciprocating it toward and fromthe front of the magazine, we provide on each side of the magazine atits forward end the vertically disposed rods 57 (see Fig. 15). Theserods pass through guide blocks 58 attached to the sides of the magazineand the upper and lower ends of the rods are connected by the cross bars59 and 60 respectively. Springs 1 surround the rods 57 at the upper endsthereof and disposed between the upper cross bar 59 and the blocks 58and tend to force the rods 57 upward.

Mounted upon each rod 57 is a member 69. having the form of a block andprovided with an upwardly and forwardly extending rounded portion 63which acts as a wedge and which is adapted to engage with the forwardinclined face of the corresponding lug 53. It will be seen that as therods 57 move downward, the gate will be moved toward the front end ofthe magazine to permit the discharge of. a splice plate and that as therods move upward, the springs 56 will force the gate forward into aposition to prevent the discharge of the splice plate. Means is alsoprovided for manually preventing the discharge of a plate, but thismechanism will be later described.

Means must be provided for positively forcing the first splice plate ofthe series contained in the magazine forward into position where it maydrop through the slot 47, and also to prevent or detain the succeedingsplice plates from being moved forward at the time that the first spliceplate is dropping. For this purpose we provide a chisel or wedge shapedseparating blade designated 64: which is mounted upon the cross means ofa movable abutment.

. will now be described.

bar 59 as shown in Fig. 15 and which has a downwardly tapered bladeformed with a chisel edge as illustrated in Fig. 18. As the bar 59isdrawn downward by the rods 57, this blade will enter between the rearface of the first splice plate and the front face of the next succeedingsplice plate and will support these splice plates forcing the firstsplice plate forward into register with the slot 47 and holding thesucceeding splice plates back. The means for reciprocating the bars 57is illustrated in Fig. 8 inwhich designates a bell crank lever pivotallymounted upon the under side of the magazine trough, the forward end ofthis lever extending over and engaging with the cross bar 60. The otherend of the bell crank lever is provided with a roller 66 which isoperated by means of operating mechanism to be later described. Afterthe splice plate has been discharged from the magazine, it dropsdownward upon suitable supporting means and is carried forward andpressed against the abutting ends of the hoop by After it is so pressedinto engagement: with the hoop, the bending meansoperate to bend theupper and lower ends of the splice plate around the hoop and then ahammer opr crates which forces the splice plate home and forces theprongs firmly into the wood of the hoop.

The mechanism for receiving the splice plate after it is discharged, forcarrying it forward against the hoop and bending it,

Brackets 37 as before stated are supported on cross pieces 47 which arerectangular in form so as to pro vide guides through which operates aplunger bar 67 (see Figs. 8, 9 and 10). This bar is formed at itsforward end with a head 68 having a horizontally extending concaverecess 69 in its forward end, this recess having the contour of thefront face of the hoop and its top edge. The mechanism for reciprocatingthis bar will be later stated. The bar 67 is formed with guide channels70 in its opposed sides in each of which is mounted a slide 71, eachslide being shorter than the length. of the corresponding channel. Thebar is transversely slotted as at 72 and 72 for bolts which pass throughthese slides and through the bar. The head 68 is reduced in thicknessand pivotally mounted thereon are the opposed jaws 73, one above and onebelow the head. To provide this pivotal mounting, the head is formedwith knuckles and each jaw has a pair of cars which embrace the knucklesand through which passes a bolt 74:. The jaws project in front of thehead and each jaw is provided with an inwardly extending terminal end orlip 75. Each jaw is also preferably formed with a medially disposedstrengthening rib and each jaw extends rearward toa point approximatelyin line with the forward end of the slot 7 2. Links 76 extend from therear end of each jaw, there being a pair of links to each jaw embracingthe bar 67, and the upper and lower pairs of links are connected bymeans of a transverse pivot bolt which passes through the slot 7 2 andoperates therein. This pivot bolt also passes through the slides 71 sooperates a bell crank lever designated 78,

one arm of which extends forward and is provided at its end with alaterally projecting cam engaging roller 7 8 The other arm of the bellcrank lever projects upward on both sides of the bar 67, it beingprovided with parallel ears for this purpose, and through the arm formedby these parallel ears passes a bolt 80 which also passes through therear ends of the slides 71. It will therefore be seen that anoscillation of the lever 78 will cause a reciprocation of the slides 71,a reciprocation of the pivot pin 76 and an oscillation of the jaws 73,and that because of the fact that the bar 67 is slotted, these movementswill occur independently to a certain extent of the movement of the bar67.

Means must be provided for supporting a splice plate when it isdischarged from the magazine and guiding it into position immediately infront of the jaws 73. To this end as illustrated in Fig. 14, the upperjaw has attached to it upwardly extending guides designated 79. Theseguides are U- shaped in cross section disposed at each end of the jawand are spaced from each other the width of a splice plate. Asillustrated,

these guides are carried upon the face of i the upper jaw 73 by means ofa transverse T angle iron which is bolted to the upper face of the jawadjacent its forward face when the jaw is in the position shown in Fig.8. The guides 79 extend directly upward and are disposed immediatelybeneath the dis charge opening 1 7 of the magazine so that a spliceplate dropping from said opening will enter said guides and be guideddown to the position shown in Fig. 8. In order to hold it in thisposition and prevent its immediate descent to the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 8, we provide a downwardly extending supportinghook 81 illustrated most clearly in Fig. 8 which at its upper end isattached to the magazine and has a lower end bent at right angles as at82 and which when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 8 extendsthrough a perforation 83 in the plate 80 so that it pro jects beyond theface of the jaw and beyond the face of the plate in such position as tosupport the splice plate as shown in full lines in Fig. 8. It will beseen from Fig. 9, however, that when the plunger bar 67 moves forward,the terminal end 82 of the hook 81 will be withdrawn from theperforation, permitting the splice plate to drop down into the positionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 8 where it is supported by means of a hookshaped lug 8i projecting outward from the face of the lower jaw.

In this position the splice plate is supported in advance of both jawsand in such position thatits middle is in alinement with the middle ofthe hoop. After this has been accomplished, the bar 67 is moved forward,that is, toward the hoop carrying the splice plate with it, and thesplice plate is forced against the face of the hoop. The jaws aresufiiciently open at this time to permit the passage of the hoop betweenthe jaws and the head 68 therefore forces the splice plate to conform tothe contour of the face of the head thereof as shown in Fig. 10. Pre-.vious to this, however, a hammer or anvil 85 has been moved forward intoposition behind the meeting ends of the hoop so as to form a solidabutment for the hoop and thus cause the prongs of the splice plate tobe forcibly pressed into the woodof the hoop.

The forward movement of the head 68 causes an initial bend of the spliceplate sov that the ends of the splice plate may be engaged by theterminal ends 75 of' the jaws 73 as the jaws are moved from the positionshown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 9. At this time the hammer isretracted so as to permit the jaws to close, but as soon as the jaws areopened, as inFig. 10, the hammer is again forced between the jaws todeliver a plate.

The hammer is designated as 85 and is mounted in a guide 86. The hammeris actuated by means of an angular lever 87' mounted loosely upon theshaft 115. This lever has a slotted upper end which passes into a slotin the hammer. The free end of the lever is made intwo sections, the Section 88 being pivoted to the free end of the lever for rotaryadjustment, and formed with a slot 90 through which a bolt car ried bythe body of the lever passes, where by to lock the section 11 in anyad"ust ed position. The outer end of the section 88 is formed with anoutwardly projecting roller 88" adapted to engage in a cam track 118 aswill be later described.

For the purpose of ejecting the barrel hoop after it has been spliced,we mount p n t e p ate ls b tween th s gm nts 5 n 6 a ej cting fingersign ted 91 which is pivoted at'its middle between ears 92 and which isbifurcated at its rear end final blow upon the splice for engagementwith a depending link 93 as illustrated in Fig. 5, which in turn isconnected to an operating lever. The rear end of the finger 91 iswidened so as to engage under the rear portion of the barrel hoop, thefingei being disposed so that its rear end projects into the spacebetween the rear ends of the sections 5 and 6 as illustrated in Fig. 1,and therefore immediately beneath the hoop when the same is closed. Assoon as'the ends of the hoop have been fastened and the hammer andplunger bar retracted so that the hoop is free, then the rear end of thefinger is snapped upward lifting the hoop into such position that it maybe readily grasped by the hands of the operator and removed.

The mechanism for operating the several instrumentalities heretoforedescribed is as follows: The driving shaft by which power iscommunicated to the machine is designated This shaft passes entirelythrough the frame upon which the machine is supported and carries uponit the usual driving pulley 95 and the clutch mechanism 96, the powerbeing communicated to the machine or removed from engagement therewithby means of the shipper lever 97 The shaft 94 is provided with a pinion98 which engages with a toothed gear wheel 99 mounted upon a shaft 100.This shaft passes entirely through the frame of the machine and carrieson its extremity the pinion 101 (see Fig. Q). Mounted loosely upon theshaft 94 is a toothed wheel 102 constituting an idler and large in sizerelatively to the pinion 101. This gear wheel 102 meshes with a toothedgear wheel 103 mounted upon a shaft 10st which extends through the rearend of the machine and carries upon it opposed cam disks 105. There aretwo of these disks, each having cam tracks upon its inner face so as toform a double card, as it may be termed, for the actuation of theplunger bar 67. This bar at its extremity is formed with laterallyprojecting pins 106 upon which are mounted the rotatable sleeves 107.The inner face of each cam disk is formed with a cam track 108 which isset eccentrically to the aXis of rotation of the cam disk, and itfollows from this that a rotation of the shaft 104: will cause areciprocation of the plunger bar 67. The reason for having the opposedcam disks is that thereby a much firmer engagement is secured and thestroke is more positive with less chance of any of the parts bending orgiving than would be the case were only one cam used.

Referring to, Figs. 2 and 5, it will be seen that passing through theside pieces 2 of the main frame is; a shaft 109 which at its outer endis provided with a gear wheel 110 which meshes with the pinion 101. Thisshaft 109 carries upon it the cam 111. This cam has a portion of its camtrack extending circumferentially around the disk, the remainder of thecam track extending in an approximately chordal line across the face ofthe disk as at 112, the middle of this transversely extending portionbeing deflected toward the center of rotation as illustrated in Fig. 10.Projecting into this cam track is the roller 78. It will be, seen fromFig. 5 that so long as the roller 78 engages with the circumferentialportion of the cam track, the slides will be held in their retractedposition but that as this roller engages with the transverse portion ofthe cam track 112, the free end of the lever 78 will be depressed as itenters the chordal portion of the cam track, thus moving the slidesforward, spreading the links 76 and separating the rearward extensionsof the jaws 73 and causing the jaws to grip around the hoop and spliceplate as shown in Fig. 9.

The depressed middle portion of the cam track 112 causes the final.gripping of the jaws which looks the splice plate upon the hoop and thismiddleportion passes, the jaws again rise to the position shown in Fig.10 to permit the entrance of the hammer between the jaws. Meshing withthe gear wheel 110 is a gear wheel 113 which is relatively large inproportion to wheel 110 and is mounted upon a shaft 114. Mounted upon ashaft 115 is a gear wheel 116 which meshes with gear wheel 113 and whichforms the axis of the angular lever 87 above referred to. Mounted on theshaft 114 is a cam 11'? formed as illustrated in Fig. 5 upon one facewith a cam track 118. This cam track is concentric to the axis of thecam for a portion of its length, but has an offset portion119. Thecircular portion of the cam track tends to hold lever 87 in suchposition that the hammer is held normally against the meeting ends ofthe hoop, but when the roller on the lever meets the be ginning of theoffset portion 119 the lever will be shifted to quickly withdraw thehammer to permit the ends of the splice plate to be clamped around thehoop and then the hammer will be forced forward to its normal positiondelivering the final'blow upon the splice plate, as above stated.

The gear wheel 116 meshes with an idler pinion 120 which meshes againwith an idler pinion 121, both of these pinions' being mounted upon stubshafts projecting from the side frame of the machine. The idler pinion121 in turn meshes with a relatively large gear wheel 122 mounted upon ashaft 123 which is supported in bearings carried by the side members 2of the frame. This shaft 123 extends transversely across the frame, andas seen in Fig. 5 carries the cam disk 124 which is circular for nearlyits entire extent but has projecting from it the stud 125 having bevelfaces. This stud is adapted to engage with the rear end of a lever 126which carries at its end a roller 127 tracking upon the periphery of thecam disk 124. This lever is rotatably mounted at its middle on a shaft128 (see Fig. 13), and the forward end of the lever is connected to thelink 93. It will be obvious then that the lever 126 will bereciprocated, once in each rotation of the shaft 123 and thisreciprocation occurs in time to actuate the ejector to discharge thecomplete hoop. Also mounted upon the shaft 128 is a bell crank leverformed with a central barrel 129 surrounding the shaft 128 and carryinga rearwardly projecting arm 130 and an upwardly projecting arm 131. Theupwardly projecting arm 131 is pivotally connected by means of links 132to the slide 33, the slide being formed with a depending lug 133 with.which the links engage by means of a pin 134.

Mounted upon the shaft 123 is a relatively large cam disk 135, one faceof which is formed with an arcuate rib 136, shown in dotted lines inFig. 5, adapted to engage intermittently with a roller 137 carried bythe arm 130. With the cam disk 135 revolving in the direction of thearrow, Fig. 5, it will be obvious that upon an engagement of the rib 136with the roller 137, the roller will be lifted and the links 132 shiftedforward thereby carrying the clamping member 31 against the hoop. Theother face of the disk 135 is formed with a cam track 138 which isapproximately ellipsoidal in form,

one portion of the ellipse extending concentric to the aXis of the diskwhile the inner portion of the cam track is eccentric to the axis ofthedisk and extends into proximity to the shaft 123.

Mounted upon a shaft139 disposed in a slot 140 in the lower ends of therear legs is an upwardly and rearwardly projecting lever 26 whichcarries a roller'l41 which engages in the cam track 138. The upper endof the lever 26 has a slotted head 142 through which the pin 25 passes,this pin being connected to the slide 18 as previously described.

In order to support the hoop blanks in such position that they may bereadily deposited by the operator, between the clamping jaw 31 and therear portion of the form, we provide a blank supporting frame asillustrated in Fig. 1 comprising upwardly and outwardly projectingsupporting brackets 143 and transverse supporting strips 144 connectedby longitudinally extending sup porting members 145. The width of theframe is, of course, less than that of the shortest hoop which is to beused with the machine. Preferably the frame is also provided at one endwith a centering plate designated 146. This plate is slightly bowed asshown in Fig. 4 so that theouter end of the plate extends laterallybeyond the line of the adjacent longitudinal member 1 15, the inner endof the plate being so disposed from the axial plane of the machine thatit will accurately center a hoop as illustrated in Fig. 1. i

The operation of the vmachine is as follows: As soon as a hoop blank isdeposited between the clamping jaw'31 and the rear end of the form, theclamping jaw moves forward so as to clamp the middle of the hoop blankin place, and this action tends to bend the hoop blank at its middle sothat the ends of the forming arms 20 may easily engage the same. Asthese forming arms ,move forward and inward following the cam tracks onthe form sections, they press the freeen'ds of the hoop together untilthe hoop is in the position shown in Fig. 7. It is to be understood thatFig. 7 does not show the complete movement of. the arms 2-0. Thecomplete movement of the arms 20 carries the rollers on the extremitiesof the arms into a position of alinement with the adjacent ends of thesections 5 and 6. Previous to this having happened, a splice plate hasbeen discharged from the magazine and rests upon the support 8% asillustrated in Fig. 8. As soon as the hoop is in position, the bar 67moves forward into the position shown in Fig. 9 and against the hoop.During the entire time that the hoop is being formed from the blank, thehammer S5 is at the forward limit of its movement so as to form a firmabutment for the meeting ends of the hoop to permit the headof the bar67 to forcibly press the prongs of the splice plate into the wood of thehoop. As soon as the bar 67 has moved forward and pressed the spliceplate into position the cam 111 shifts the slide 71 forward, thusturning the jaws to the position shown in Fig. 9,"and bending the spliceplate over the hoop and clamping it in place, the hammer having beenmomen tarily retracted to permit this operation. The jaws then openpartly as previously described, that is, take the position shown in Fig.10, and as soon as this has occurred the hammer again moves against theinner face of the splice plate so that the splice plate is compressedagainst the hoop and between the hammer 85 and the head of the bar 67.As soon as this has occurred, the bar 67 moves away and the jaws areopened, and at the end of the stroke these jaws will take the positionshown in Fig. 8, the guides 7 9 extending vertically and being disposedbeneath the discharge opening l? of the mag azine. As the jaws moverearward, the rear rounded end of the upper jaw will come in contactwith the roller 66 on the rear end of the bell crank and will shift thisroller upward, thus lowering the for ward end of the bell crank anddepressing the cross bar 60, the rods 57 and the cross bar 59. Thisaction as previously eX- plained will carry the wedge block 62 downward,forcing rearward the lugs 53 and forcing the gate or detent 4:8rearward. As the cross bar 59 is depressed, the blade 64: enters betweenthe first splice plate of the series and the next adjacent plate,separates the two and while forcing the first splice plate forward intoposition to drop through the slot -7, holds the remainder of the spliceplates from any forward movement. Upon the next forward movement of thebar 67, together with the jaws 73, the forward end of the bell cranklever 65 will be carried upward by means of the spring 61 on the rods 57and this will raise the blade 6-1:, permitting the follower 38 to shiftthe series of splice plates forward so that another splice plate willlie against the gate and into position to drop when the gate movesforward. Meanwhile the hammer has moved backward as has also the clamp31, and as soon as this occurs the forward end of the ejecting lever isdepressed, lifting the rear end of the hoop upward into such positionthat it may be readily grasped by the operator and removed from themachine. it is sometimes necessary to prevent the discharge of thesplice plates either because it is desired to stop the operation of themachine in this regard, or else because a portion of the machine breaks,and for this purpose we provide a small shaft 147 which extends throughthe rear end of the yoke and at its forward end connected to the middleof the projecting plate or block 49, this plate being slidable to alimited extent with relation to the gate though moving therewith. Theforward end of the shaft 1%? isswiveled to the plate and surround ingthe shaft is a coil spring 14-8 which acts to hold the plate retractedwith relation to the gate so that it will move with the gate. Extendingacross the shaft is a pin 1&9 contacting with the rear end wall of theyoke, and the yoke is provided with a vertical groove 150 within whichthe pin is normally received. ll hen it is desired to prevent thedischarge of splice plates from the magazine, this shaft 1 2'? isshifted ward against t force of the spring 148 and rotated ough aquarter revolut on so that the pin 1' bears against the inner face ofthe yoke ii and thus holds the plate slightly projected relative to thegate. ll hen so projected, it will be obrious that the splice plateswill not be allowed to move forward so as to drop through the dischargeopening, and that as a consequence the blade 6% when it reciprocateswill simply enter between the gate and the first splice plate and willhave no effect in the way of feeding the splice plates forward.

IV hat we claim is:

1. In a hoop forming machine, a supporting frame, a hoop form comprisingopposed sections spaced from each other, the forward ends of thesections being pivoted and the rear ends of the sections beingadjustabletoward or from each other, hoop forming members moving alongthe faces of said sections and around the form and adapted to engagewith the hoop to thereby force the hoop into conformity with the formand cause the ends of the hoop to meet opposite the forward end ofthespace between said sections, means for bending a splice-plate around themeeting ends of the hoop, and a hammer reciprocatingly mount- .ed in thespace between the forward ends of said form sections and acting toclench the splice-plate upon the hoop.

2. In a hoop forming'machine, a form comprising opposed segmentalsections spaced from each other, the forward ends of the sections beingpivoted and the rear ends being adjustable toward or from each other,each section having a circumferential track and a tangential extensionof the track merging thereinto, a slide movable toward or from the form,hoop forming arms pivoted upon said slide, the extremities of the armsbeing provided with means for engaging the tracks.

3. In a hoop forming and splicing machine, the combination of astationary hoop form composed of opposed spaced sections pivoted attheir forward ends and adjustable at their rear ends toward and awayfrom each other, a hoop clamping member mounted at the rear end of saidform and adapted to initially bend the hoop around the form, said hoopclamping member having a length greater than the utter-most width towhich the rear ends of the sections can be adjusted from each other,mechanism for bending the end portions of the hoop blank equally aboutsaid form to cause the ends to meet opposite the space between the frontportions of the sections, means for applying a splice plate to themeeting ends of the hoop, a mechanism for bending the splice plat-earound the meeting ends of the hoop, a hammer for delivering a blow uponthe splice plate to clamp the ends thereof, said hammer operating in thespace between the forward ends of the form section, and means operatingin the space between the rear ends of the sections for ejecting thecompleted hoop.

l. In a hoop forming machine, a form comprising opposed segmentalsections spaced from each other, the forward ends of the sections beingpivoted, the rear ends being adjustable toward or from each other,

eachsection having a circumferential track and a tangential extension ofthe track merging thereinto, a clamp having an arcuate clamping memberdisposed in parallel relationto the form and slidably mounted formovement toward or from the form, said member acting to initially bend ahoop blank and clamp it to the form, and said clamping member having alength greater than the uttermost expansion of the rear ends of the formsections, means operating on each side of the clamp and form for bendingthe hoop blank around the form, means for successively shifting theclamp toward the form operating. said bending means, retracting saidbending means and retracting the clamp to release the hoop from itsengagement with the form.

c o. In a hoop forming machine, a circular form provided with outwardlyprojecting prongs, said form including a track extending parallelthereto, and hoop bending members movable along said track to force thehoop into contact with the form and into engagement with the prongs.

6. In a hoop forming machine, an approximately circular form, oppositelydisposed pivoted arcuate arms, means causing the extremities of the armsto travel parallel to the circumference of the form to bend a hoop blankaround the form, and springs mounted on the inside faces of the arms toengage the hoop blank when the arms have traveled through the fullextent of their movement in one direction.

7. In a. hoop forming machine, a form comprising opposed sections spacedfrom each other, means for bending the hoop blank around said form, anejector disposed between the sections at the rear end thereof andincluding a lever, the rear end of which projects beyond said form andbeneaththe hoop carried thereon, and means for depressing the other endof the ejector to raise the hoop from the form.

8. In a hoop forming machine, a: supporting frame, a plate mountedthereon, a hoop form mounted on said plate, guideways formed upon theunder side of the plate at the rear end thereof, a slide mounted in saidguideways, an arcuate clamp mounted upon the slide and movable with theslide toward and from the form, and means engaging said clamp forreciprocating the same.

9. In a hoop-forming and splicing machine, the combination with a hoopforming mechanism, of a bar movable longitudinally toward and from thehoop-forming mechanism and having a splice plate engaging head, clampingjaws pivoted "ad jacent their forward ends to the head adj acent thefront face thereof, the pivots of said jaws being oppositely disposed toeach other, means for reciprocating the bar, and

means for independently oscillating said jaws. I i

10. In a hoop and forming splicing machine, the combination with a hoopforming mechanism, of a presser bar movable longitudinally toward andfrom the forming mechanism and having a splice engaging head formed witha splice receiving recess, opposed clenching jaws pivoted adjacent theirforward ends to thehead above and below the same, means for supporting asplice plate upon and in front of one of said jaws, means forreciprocating the presser bar toward and from the hoop formingmechanism, means for holding the jaws station ary and in open positionwhile the presser bar is moving forward toward the hoop formingmechanism, means for closing the jaws to clench the splice plate aroundthe hoop, means for opening said aws, a hammer, means for shifting thehammer against the rear side of the splice plate to clench the same, andmeans for retracting the hammer, the presser bar and the jaws therewith.

11. In a hoop forming and splicing machine, the combination with hoopforming mechanism, of a bar movable longitudinally toward and from theforming mechanism and having a splice plate engaging head, said barbeing longitudinally slotted, clenching jaws pivoted intermediate theirends to said head above and below the same and having rearwardlyextending prolonged portions, a reciprocating member mounted on the bar,links connecting the prolonged portions of the jaws to saidreciprocating member, means for reciprocating the presser bar, and meansfor independently shifting said reciprocating member.

12. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of areciprocating presser bar, jaws pivotally mounted on opposite sides ofthe bar adjacent the forward end thereof and movable therewith, saidjaws having rearwardly extending arms, actuating means for said jawsmovable with the bar and movable independently longitudinally of thebar, and links connecting the rear ends of the arms to saidjaw-actuating means whereby upon a forward movement of the jaw-actuatingmeans the links will be forced outward and the jaws rocked upon theirpivots to cause the for- \-'ard ends to move in arcs of circles towardeach other and toward the end of the presser bar.

13. In a hoop forming and splicing machine, the combination with a hoopforming mechanism, of a reciprocating presser bar formed with a recessin its forwardend adapted to receive a splice plate, of upper and lowersplice clenching jaws pivoted at their forward ends upon said head, theforward faces of said jaws being curved, one

of the jaws being provided with upwardly extending splice plate guidesand the other jaw with a splice plate support, said support extendingoutward from the front curved face of the jaw.

14:. In a hoop forming and splicing machine, the combination with a hoopforming mechanism, of a longitudinally movable presser barreciprocatable toward and from the hoop forming mechanism, said barbeing longitudinally slotted, jaws pivoted at the forward end of saidbar and having rearwardly extending prolongations, slides mounted onsaid bar for independent longitudinal movement, links connecting saidprolongations of the jaws with said slides, a cam reciprocating thepresser bar, a cam independently rotatable with relation to the firstnamed cam, and a bell crank, one arm thereof engaging said slides andthe other arm engaging said cam.

15. In a hoop forming mechanism, a splice plate magazine having adischarge opening at its forward end, means for feeding a plurality ofsplice plates longitudinally along said magazine, a reciprocating gatefor alternately closing and opening said discharge opening to permit thedis charge of splice plates, vertically reciprocating members mounted onthe magazine for actuating said gate, a bell crank lever pivoted to themagazine, the forward end thereof engaging said reciprocating members.the rear end thereof extending clownward, a presser bar longitudinallyreciprocatable beneath said magazine, jaws mounted on the forward endsof said presser bar, means mounted on the presser bar for independentlyoscillating said jaws, the rear end of one of said jaws engaging withthe depending arm of the bell crank lever to reciprocate the gate andpermit the d1scharge of a splice plate upon the rearward movement of thejaws.

16. In a hoop forming and splicing machine, a splice plate magazinehaving a discharge opening in its bottom at its forward end, means forfeeding a plurality of splice plates along the magazine toward thedischarge end thereof, a gate shiftable to intermittently cover anduncover the discharge opening, vertically disposed reciprocating memberscarried upon said magazine and engaging the said gate to reciprocate thelatter, a bell crank lever pivoted to the under side of the magazine andhaving one arm thereof operatively engaging the reciprocating membersand the other arm thereof projecting downward and rearward, a presserbar supported beneath the magazine and supported longitudinally thereof,hoop forming mechanism opposed to said presser bar, means forreciprocating the presser bar toward and from the hoop formingmechanism, jaws mounted upon the forward end of the presser bar andhaving rearwardly extending prolongations, the prolongations of one ,ofa splice plate from the magazine, a support mounted 011 the lower jawand splice plate guides mounted on the upper jaw and adapted to registerwith the discharge opening when the presser bar is in its retractedposition whereby to guide a splice plate onto the saidsupport and infront of said presser bar, and means for independently reciprocating thepresser bar and oscillating said aws.

17. In a hoop forming and splicing machine, the combination of a hoopform, mechanism for bending a hoop around the form, a hammer movableinto a position behind the meeting ends of the hoop, means for applyinga splice plate to the meeting ends of the hoop, means for forcing saidhammer into position behind the meeting ends of the hoop and for thenwithdrawing said hammer and simultaneously bending the ends of thesplice plate around the meeting ends of the hoop, and means for againforcing said hammer forward against the hoop to clench the bent ends ofthe splice plate.

18. In a hoop forming machine, a hoop form comprising two opposedseparated sections, a hammer reciprocatingly mounted between saidsections, means acting to bend a hoop blank around said sections tobring the meeting ends thereof immediately in front of said hammer,means for applying the splice plate to the meeting ends of the hoopblank, a cam operatively engaging said hammer to reciprocate it, andmeans for bending the ends of the splice plate around the edges of themeeting ends of the hoop while the hammer is reciprocating.

19. In a hoop forming machine, a hoop form, means for bending a hoopblank around the form, means for applying a splice plate to the meetingends of the hoop blank,

7 means for solidly supporting the meeting ends of the hoop blank whilethe splice plate is being applied, means for bending the ends of thesplice plate around the hoop blank,

chine, the combination with a hoop supporting means, of a splice platepressing member havlng a head formed w1th a concave recess adapted toreceive the splice plate, means for supporting a splice plateimmediately in advance of the head, means for advancing the pressingmember against the hoop to force the splice plate into said recess andinitially bend the plate over the front of the hoop, and'means mountedon the forward end of the pressing member and movable toward the centerof thesplice plate for bending the margins of the splice plate over theedges of the hoop'and forcing said margins toward each other and towardthe outer face of the hoop to cause the splice plate to snugly embracethe hoop.

21. In a hoop forming and splicing machine, the combination with hoopsupporting means, of a splice plate pressing member having a head formedwith a concave recess adapted to receive the splice plate, oppositelydisposed jaws pivoted respectively above and below the head, the innerfaces of said jaws extending outward and toward the axial center of thehead, means for supporting a splice plate in advance of the jaws, meansfor advancing the pressing member against the hoop to force the spliceplate past said jaws and into said recess to cause the splice plate tosnugly fit the front face of the hoopand initially bend the splice platearound the hoop, and means-for rocking said jaws upon their pivots tocause the forward ends of the jaws to move toward each other and towardthe hoop to thereby bend the margins of the splice plates around theupper and lower edges of the hoop inwardly against the hoop.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

Witnesses:

1 THos. F. TURNER,

,F. E. VVEIDLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washingtom l). G.

